Disaggregated data, which can look deeply into the lived experiences of marginalised people, is a key demand of LGBTI and other human rights groups. With this in mind, over the last year ILGA-Europe have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.

This briefing analyses the results of the FRA LGBTI Survey II and summarises the most relevant data about the experiences of LGBTI persons with disabilities in Europe.

BeLonG To, the leading Irish organisation for LGBT young people is on the vanguard of working on the instersection of LGBTI and disability. Here we share their journey so far, and some great tips for LGBTI organisations who want to be inclusive of people with disabilities in their work.

Three years ago, BeLonG To, the national organisation for LGBT young people in Ireland, facilitated their first focus group with young LGBTI people living with disability. Today the organisation adheres to a ‘Social Model of Disability’ and has a clear focus for working on the intersection of LGBTI and disbility. We asked Gillian O’Brien, Manager of BeLonG To Youth Work Department to share the organisation’s journey on the intersection, and to share their top tips for inclusion.

Hi, Gillian! Firstly, can you talk to us about how your work on the intersection of LGBTI and disability began?

In 2018, we facilitated our first focus group with 15 LGBTI+ young people living with a disability. Listening to the lived experiences and voices of young people is at the core of our work. The model of equal partnership, we practice, empowered the young people to lead BeLonG To through our intersection disability journey. It’s been a really positive experience for our organisation.

Why is it important for you to pay attention to this intersection in our community?

LGBTI+ young people and adults experience intersectional oppression and discrimination resulting from the overlap of their various social identities. Race, gender, sexuality, class, religion, ethnicity, and living with a disability, all can contribute to a type of systematic oppression or discrimination, experienced by an individual. A black working-class lesbian living with a disability, for instance, can experience many forms of intersection oppression — racism, homophobia, misology, classism, a two-tier health system, low education attainment and outcomes, and so on. We cannot ignore the impact of intersection oppression on a LGBT+ young person’s life and should listen to their lived experience.

Could you explain about the project, ‘Staying Safe and Creating Safe Spaces’, which BeLonG To managed last year?

An LGBTI+ Disability Youth Advisory Panel was advertised and established, with ‘Equal Partnership’ practice and structures governing it. LGBTI+ young people living with a disability identified a gap in practice for external services, regarding safe and supported access for them, and through focus groups in consultation within BeLonG To, they identified risks to online dating while living with a disability. The young people wanted to reduce the harm of online dating and provide tips to external services, to make them more accessible and safer for LGBTI+ young people living with a disability. At first, the advisory panel was going to create two-word resources, then they decided to make them more accessible, so they created two animations entitled, ‘Staying Safe and Creating Safe Spaces’.

Can you tell us about what you learned through this project?

LGBTI+ young people living with a disability have requested that BeLonG To adheres to the ‘Social Model of Disability’, so this is something we have committed to. We also learned that applying ‘Universal Design’ to all our buildings and services, makes them more accessible and safer for everybody.

What lessons can you share with LGBTI organisations who want to be inclusive of people with disabilities in their work?

Create a safe space and request and invite those living with a disability to engage in reviewing your services, to make them more accessible and safer. The whole organisation will benefit from this process.

Here are six key things BelongTo is doing differently as a result of their project with LGBTI+ young people living with a disability:

1. Changing how they communicate with LGBTI+ young people using video messages, voice messages, email, SMS etc., as per the preference of the young person to meet their needs.

2. A quiet space has been created in their service for young people with sensory issues to access, in case they are feeling overloaded.

3. The entire staff team has participated in autism awareness training to ensure they can better respond to the needs of LGBTI+ young people.

4. They have changed their organisation’s style guide, simplifying design in order to ensure it is accessible, and adapting the fonts and sizes used by the organisation to ensure accessibility.

5. They have improved the knowledge for their workers on how to meet the needs of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI+ youth, leading to greater understanding, inclusion, and participation within their services.

6. They have increased their awareness of harm reducing strategies and actions D/deaf and disabled LGBTI+ youth can take, helping keep them safe online and on the LGBTI+ scene.

Making our work more inclusive is at the core of ILGA-Europe’s purpose. This is especially true in the case of disabled LGBTI people, who continue to be marginalised in our movement. In this blog, we share some of our learnings from working alongside disabled LGBTI activists. If you are part of a queer rights organisation, this may be particularly useful for you!

All LGBTI people are still far from living in fully equal societies but D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people face specific barriers and challenges when accessing human rights. As human rights organisations we have to ask ourselves who are we leaving behind and make space among our priorities. Although, accessibility and inclusiveness are increasingly present in LGBTI groups’ conversations and practices, most D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people continue to be marginalised in LGBTI movements.

At ILGA-Europe, we want to contribute to changing this. For some years now, we’ve been working together with international organisations like the European Disabilities Forum, which defends the interests of over 100 million persons with disabilities in Europe. We’ve learned and readjusted our own practices regarding online and in-person events, language, social media and much more, as well as taking in these lessons in our advocacy work with EU institutions and the Council of Europe.

We’ve also learnt from the community. In 2019 we hosted a gathering of 11 of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists from nine countries throughout the European region who clarified their priorities with us: connecting voices, visibility, educating organisations, and the fundamental necessity for D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people to lead this work. Following this initiative, we launched a funding call aimed at developing projects that would support activism at this intersection. The high number of applications we received shows there is an important need. Have a look at what we’ve learned from this funding call, which we hope will be useful for your LGBTI activism work too:

1. Centering disabled LGBTI voices is the starting point

It should go without saying but let’s make it clear nonetheless. LGBTI people with disabilities must be placed at the centre of the work. The projects we supported were led by people who are LGBTI people living with a disability, they were the ones shaping the project as it went along and changing outputs when needed, to ensure that they are meaningful and accessible for the community. This proved essential for the success of projects.

2. Consider additional barriers D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists face in their work

Groups led by disabled LGBTI people, especially smaller groups, very often have to cope with a lot more than the usual challenges in managing a project. Our experience of supporting projects during the COVID-19 pandemic made it very clear that groups working on the intersection of LGBTI and disability are made more vulnerable by larger inequalities and bigger changes going on in the world. This in no way means that smaller LGBTI/disability rights groups should not be funded! If it means anything, it is that groups at this intersection desperately need more funding, and tailored support that allows them to carry out their projects.

3. Flexibility, support and empathy go a long way

As a grant-maker supporting a disabled LGBTI activism project, a few small things made a significant difference in the development of projects. It mattered that we provided additional flexibility in terms of reallocating budget items, allowing plans to be changed or dropped, and extending project timelines, recognising the learning done along the way. Being explicit about the additional support we could offer and show understanding when groups met unexpected challenges reduced the stress felt by groups who haven’t had much experience in managing funded projects.

4. Financial and human resources support by larger organisations can play an important role

Larger LGBTI organisations can play an important role supporting D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists. They have infrastructure and capacity to share and can be essential to keep the work of smaller groups going. Receiving support in project management from more resourced LGBTI organisations made a big difference for our grantees. Allocating both financial and human resources is a meaningful way to support D/deaf and disabled LGBTI groups. As long as you keep D/deaf and disabled LGBTI in the lead to shape the project and decide on outcomes!

5. This is your time to learn too!

Supporting disabled LGBTI activism is also about learning about the lived reality of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people yourself. Think about how you design projects and activities so they lead to changes in your own organisational culture — from making your work practices and premises, your communication and events more accessible, to increasing your knowledge and resources available on disability rights issues.

Any organisation that wants to engage should commit to listening to the needs of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people and introduce organisational changes to cater them where needed. At ILGA-Europe we are committed to continue doing our best to ensure we learn, to develop and change as we learn, and to find more ways to support D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists and activism in Europe and Central Asia.

Dina, Ingrid and Louise are three LGBTI activists with disabilities based in different parts of Europe. They’re fighting for disabled LGBTI people to have a seat in LGBTI movements, and for equal rights in society. This International Day of Persons With Disabilities, they tell us about their aims and activism, and how can everyone be an ally under their motto: Nothing about us without us!

Dina Bajrektarevic: “We must be included in every aspect of political, social, economical and cultural life.”

Dina is Program’s Manager at Tuzla Open Centre. She is based in Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

How did you get into activism in the intersection of LGBTI and disability?

I’ve been involved in LGBTI activism since the age of 18. I studied special education and rehabilitation, and I had the opportunity to volunteer with non-governmental organisations that deal with issues for persons with disabilities. I noticed the connections and similarities between the problems of both groups. I realised that both share the same or similar problems with the system that oppresses them and that it is absurd to talk about only one group when we talk about human rights.

All marginalised groups are so connected, intertwined and heterogeneous that we cannot separate them from each other. Within marginalised communities themselves, double marginalisation can occur and we as activists need to take this into account in our actions. We need to be aware of all the needs of our communities we are fighting for. I’ve realised that it is also necessary to work with the communities to raise awareness of how their multiple identities affect their privileges and life experiences. Human rights are human rights, and it is absurd to omit intersectionality in our work.

What is your current goal as an activist?

My current goal is to promote the importance and role of interactionality. I’m someone who advocates the decentralisation of activism and who does not tolerate ‘selective activism’ — because human rights are not a buffet and we cannot choose which rights we will fight for. We cannot fight for the rights of one community and ignore the other, or consciously decide not to deal with their problems as well, because I guarantee you that within the community we are fighting for, there is also the community whose problems we ignore.

“Through my activism, I want to show marginalised communities how connected they are to each other and how beautiful our diversity is.”

Dina Bajrektarevic

My goal is to try and permeate the discussion about the importance of intersectionality and how important and significant it is for our movements. Through my activism, I want to show marginalised communities how connected they are to each other and how beautiful our diversity is. I want to give meaning to how much we can be closer to each other through our identities and life experiences, and how all of that is the key to the fight — which is our common one. The current goal is to explain to people the importance of practicing solidarity.

What can LGBTI people personally do to make sure that people with disabilities are fully included in the movement and society at large?

The first thing we as the LGBTI community need to do is recognise that people with disabilities belong to our community. Our community is diverse and it is one of the things we should be proud of. Our responsibility to the members of our community is to educate ourselves about the problems and needs they have (it is important for me to emphasise that I am not referring here to any ‘special’ needs, but to specific needs arising from different levels of marginalisation). We should educate and inform ourselves about the ways of communicating, organising, practicing inclusive culture and taking care of accessibility during the planning of our events.

We must not forget that accessibility does not only mean architectural accessibility, but also ways of working, organising, approaching a particular issue etc. We have to practice being respectful and as we advocate for human rights, and include people with disabilities within our discussions. We need to remember the phrase, ‘nothing about them without them’.

What’s your message for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities?

The message for all my comrades and friends with disability is that I stand with you in solidarity at all times. All of us as a community need to ensure your recognition in the LGBTI movement and your recognition and importance in the wider community. On this day, I want you to remember how far you have come in this fight. Our common struggle for dignity, human rights and equality will never stop. It is important for me to emphasise that you are valuable to this society just because you are human.

“I want you to remember how far you have come in this fight. Our common struggle for dignity, human rights and equality will never stop.”

Dina Bajrektarevic

I want to take this moment to demand from our community to work with people with disabilities for a far more inclusive and transformative future for everyone. I would also like to demand that we involve people with disabilities in discussions and in all decision-making processes. They must be included in every aspect of political, social, economical and cultural life — I am not asking but demanding. We have to remember to include everyone and that means including people with disabilities in our movements and fights. No one will be left behind.

Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities! For new fights! Nothing about you without you! In solidarity!

Ingrid Thunem: “I am proud of my disability, but it does not define me.”

Ingrid is a former Paralympic swimmer and activist from Norway

How did you get into activism in the intersection of LGBTI and disability?

I started to be active in the disability community cause I wanted to end discrimination and have a place to meet others in my situation. When I started to be active, I found out I was the only openly queer person in the group I was working with. I also faced quite a lot of homophobia from other disability activists. Many didn’t understand why queer rights were something that disability organisations needed to care about.

When I was a teenager I was a part of the queer community, but as my disability progressed I didn’t really feel at home and many queer spaces were totally inaccessible for me. I felt alone but I was sure there were others feeling like me, so I wanted to make a change that made it easier for other queer disabled people. That was when I decided I needed to start activism in the intersection.

(Disclaimer: in Norway, the term ‘queer’ also includes trans people, so when I speak about queer disable people, of course queer trans people are a part of it!)

“I felt alone but I was sure there were others feeling like me, so I wanted to make a change that made it easier for other queer disabled people.”

Ingrid Thunem

What is your current goal as an activist?

Right now, my goal is to raise money for physical meetings for queer and disabled people in Norway. COVID-19 left many people with disabilities isolated and alone, which has led to an increase in mental health issues and loneliness.

There has also been a spike in anti-trans coverage in the media, which has made the situation for trans people with disabilities even harder. There have been fewer physical gatherings and even though a lot of digital gatherings have been organized, I feel like we need to meet in person, both for the social aspect but also to build each other up and support each other in our ongoing activism.

We have also gotten a new Minister for Equality and Culture in Norway, so our hope is that she will listen to the concerns of queer disabled people and keep supporting us. We want to keep raising awareness and showing people that we are here, we are queer and we have disabilities as well.

What can LGBTI people personally do to make sure that people with disabilities are fully included in the movement and society at large?

This is a complex question, since disability is complex. I have a visible disability and use a wheelchair, and for me the main issues with being a part of the queer community have been access. When an event is inaccessible, it takes away my opportunity to be a part of the movement, so making sure your events are accessible is step one, but also to remember that accessibility also can mean being able to bring a carer, costume, lighting or a sign language interpreter. Accessibility is not only about ramps.

The next step is to make sure that people with invisible disabilities also feel welcome. For instance, accessing information and having the possibility to be seated or skip the line might be instrumental to securing inclusion. I think it is important to speak about access and give relevant information about your events. Also, if you see someone new at an event, speak to them. Welcome people and be inclusive.

As queer people in society we are used to facing discrimination when we are out and about, so we know its effects. Raise questions about disability accessibility. Ask for a ramp at the new club or mention accessibility at work. Together we can make a difference.

“Disabled people are as diverse as anyone else; we can be queer, and we deserve a seat at the queer table.”

Ingrid Thunem

What’s your message for the International Day of Persons With Disabilities?

My message is, don’t forget that it is all about human rights. Disabled people are as diverse as anyone else; we can be queer, and we deserve a seat at the queer table. For many people with disabilities, it is hard to be allowed to be yourself. You are pushed into a box by society, where the disability is seen as the most instrumental part of you. You are often not asked what you want or are not allowed to take ownership of your own body. I am proud of my disability, but it does not define me.

Having a disability is just one identity and one aspect of being human. Listen to people with disabilities. Don’t let a person’s disability define how you act around them, be open to the fact that everyone is different, and that diversity is what makes us better humans.

Louise Ashworth: “Making assumptions results in disabled people not being treated as equals and negates the valuable contribution that we make.”

Louise is National Chair at Barnardo’s Disability Network and member of UNISON. They are based in the UK.

How did you get into activism in the intersection of LGBTI and disability?

I experienced being LGBTI as a disabled person differently to non-disabled LGBTI people. I had to come out both as LGBTI and disabled, but there was a feeling of isolation and exclusion because meetings were held in non-accessible buildings, were not inclusive or accessible, and there was a stigma about being disabled.

I joined a protest against a LGBTI social venue in Manchester which had intentionally flouted the building provisions of the then Disability Discrimination Act. Venues were required to provide an accessible entrance and this one had steps. As a disabled person, I felt unwelcome in LGBTI venues and spaces, which were supposed to be inclusive and safe. At the time we were also experiencing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in education, workplaces, health services, public services and most aspects of society.

As a disabled LGBTI activist, I was fortunate to be supported by my trade union, UNISON, which recognised that the voices of Black and Disabled LGBTI people were not heard and were underrepresented in both the LGBTI and disability rights movements. UNISON’s LGBT+ committee has reserved seats for disabled LGBT+ members and the national disability committee has reciprocal arrangements. My contribution is valued, and my voice heard as a disabled LGBTI person.

“Some disabled people are still being denied the right to form a family, and are often considered to be asexual or lack capacity to have consensual sexual and romantic relationships let alone be LGBTI.”

LOUISE ASHWORTH

What is your current goal as an activist?

Promoting the social and human rights models of disability which recognise people are not disabled by impairments or conditions but by barriers in society, education, workplaces, organisations, policies, accessing services and prejudiced attitudes.

Some disabled people are still being denied the right to form a family, and are often considered to be asexual or lacking in the capacity to have consensual sexual and romantic relationships let alone be LGBTI. My trade union activism includes campaigning and advocating on behalf of disabled workers to minimise barriers to employment, reasonable adjustments are provided, workplaces are accessible, and that disabled people receive a decent wage for the work they do.

In the UK, the TUC’s disability pay gap analysis has revealed that disabled workers will be working from 9 November to the end of year for nothing. It is essential that any of the work we do on LGBTI or disability is done through an intersectional lens and we need to ensure that we look at the impact for different people within our movement — for example, black disabled people experience racism including structural racism, trans disabled people experience transphobia as well as disablism ­ — and it is important that we look at how our different identities intersect.

What can LGBTI people personally do to make sure that people with disabilities are fully included in the movement and society at large?

It is important for LGBTI people to listen to disabled LGBTI people and make sure that we are included. There is a saying within the disability movement, ‘Nothing about without us’. Historically we have been segregated and institutionalised and denied independence. Some non-disabled people make assumptions about disabled people, but we are all different. Even those of us who have similar health conditions and impairments have different experiences.

“It is important for non-disabled LGBTI people to be allies to disabled LGBTI people by challenging prejudice and discrimination, supporting us in our demands, and listening to us.”

Louise Ashworth

Making assumptions results in disabled people not being treated as equals and negates the valuable contribution that we make. It is important for non-disabled LGBTI people to be allies to disabled LGBTI people by challenging prejudice and discrimination, supporting us in our demands, and listening to us. When organising events, even if they are virtual, try to make sure they are inclusive and accessible. Use appropriate language and respect individual LGBTI disabled people’s identities and contributions.

What’s your message for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities?

The theme this year is, ‘Fighting for rights in the post-COVID era’. It explores the challenges, barriers and opportunities for disabled people in the context of a global pandemic. Across Europe, we have all been impacted by the pandemic, but disabled people have been disproportionately impacted with higher death rates, reduced access to healthcare and support services, social isolation, poor mental health, financial impact and job losses. For disabled LGBTI people and black disabled LGBTI people, the impact was compounded due to marginalisation and structural racism and discrimination.

In some countries, there has been a shift. Disabled people were making some progress in respect of progressing social and human rights-based models of disability, but during the pandemic we were once again pathologised and medicalised, labelled as clinically vulnerable and denied life-saving treatment. This sent a message that we were expendable.

We need to learn from this and advocate for the human rights of disabled people and the removal of barriers that restrict our access to participation. We should build on some of the positives such as being able to virtually network and attend digital events that some disabled people would not have been able to access physically. At least one in five of us are disabled, so that means that there are many LGBTI people who will be disabled. Many of us have non-apparent impairments and conditions and we need to be advocating for the LGBTI movement to be inclusive and accessible for us all.

Adopted from Sri Lanka to a family in the Netherlands when she was just ten days old, Cherine Mathot survived childhood cancer which left her with a disability, and she came out as bisexual at the age of 15. In advance of International Women’s Day this coming Sunday (March 8), Cherine tells us how her experiences have informed her work for the LGBTI organisation COC Nederlands.

Activist Cherine Mathot currently works as Manager of Communications and Fundraising at the Dutch organisation, COC Nederlands, which advocates for LGBT rights nationally and internationally. “We are active in more than thirty-five countries,” she tells us for the Voices of ILGA-Europe project. “We try to bring people together, give them support where they need it, and empower them to make social changes.”

Cherine had her struggles growing up in The Netherlands. “I was adopted from Sri Lanka when I was only ten days old,” she says. “I grew up in an environment where I was the only coloured person, and at the age of ten years, I had bone cancer in my left leg, which left me disabled. When I was fifteen years old, I came out as bisexual to my adoptive parents and they didn’t respond that well.”

Alone and ashamed

“All these experiences together made me feel different in all sorts of ways, and it was not always easy. I felt alone and ashamed in many periods in my life, but it’s also made me a bit stronger as a person and to be able to connect with a lot of diverse people. I think that’s my intrinsic motivation for being an activist, because I find it very important that people are seen for who they are and respected, that they have a chance to be themselves and to have a place in society.”

Cherine’s experience as a bisexual woman particularly informs her activism. “I think there are a lot of things to do for our visibility and acceptance,” she says. “I didn’t really feel part of the community when I was dating men, because I had a heterosexual lifestyle, but now I’m currently in a relationship with a woman, so I feel more part of the community. So that’s a really strange thing because I’m not changing, I’m still me, Cherine, and I’m bisexual, so I think that’s a challenge.”

Persistence pays off

Although Cherine’s adoptive parents were not accepting when she first told them about being bisexual, she didn’t let it rest there.

“I was very persistent in showing and telling them, ‘this is who I am’,” she says. “So I came home with my then-girlfriend and sat down on the couch holding hands, and talked to them about what it means to be bisexual. Slowly, gradually they changed their minds and now they are very accepting and very supportive. I find it an inspiration that people are able to change.”

We interviewed Cherine at the last ILGA-Europe conference in Prague in October 2019. It was her second year to be in attendance. “Last year, I encountered all the bi-plus activists and I was really inspired and also supported by the feeling that there are people like me with the same experiences,” she says. “I think all the discussions you [ILGA-Europe] have about LGBTI issues really help me in shaping my work for COC Nederlands, so I’m very happy with you!”

ILGA-Europe is inviting organisations and groups from Europe and Central Asia to apply for this new funding opportunity to support D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activism*. The last day to submit your application (deadline) is Monday 10 February 2020.

D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people face specific barriers and challenges when accessing human rights. Accessibility and inclusiveness have increasingly been part of LGBTI groups and organizations’ conversations and practices. Yet most D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people continue to be marginalised in LGBTI movements across Europe and Central Asia. At ILGA-Europe, we want to contribute to changing that.

In November 2019 we hosted a gathering of 11 D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists from nine countries throughout the European region. Priorities identified during the gathering are around: connecting voices and ideas and visibility of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people, educating LGBTI and disability organisations, campaign and advocacy for legal and policy changes. A clear interest to work at an international level was also expressed as well as the importance of having D/deaf and disability LGBTI people leading on this work.

In line with the conclusions of the gathering and as part of our work to support the LGBTI movement in Europe and Central Asia, ILGA-Europe is now inviting you to apply for this new funding opportunity to support D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activism. The last day to submit your application (deadline) is Monday 10 February 2020.

Do not hesitate to contact us via email at valeria@ilga-europe.orgor by calling 0032 2 609 56 52 (Valeria’s number at ILGA-Europe):

• If you have doubts or questions related to this funding opportunity.
• If you need support with your application.
• If you will not be able to apply but you would still like to be informed about this work. 

Priorities for this funding opportunity:

1) With this funding we will support projects that prioritize:

• Connection: D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people voices and ideas are more connected and less isolated;
• Legal and policy change: Through advocacy work there are fewer barriers to D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people enjoying their human rights;
• Visibility: D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people experiences and activism are more visible.

2) An additional priority is about the LGBTI (and disability) movement becoming more aware and accessible for D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people. With this fund we want to support projects that:

• Create results that remain also after the fund is finished.
• Is part of a longer process of developing D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activism in Europe and Central Asia.
• Create knowledge, tools, practices that can be used by other activists for similar purposes;
• Keeps into account a regional and cross-country perspective.

Activities that can be supported:

Examples of activities that can be included in project proposals are:

• Needs assessment or planning activities for your organisation or group;
• Community activities, online or in person, to meet and engage with more D/deaf and disabled people;
• Advocacy work around policy or legal change that is important to D/deaf and disabled people;
• Communication activities and campaign online and offline;
• Development of educational materials such as publications or trainings;
• Meetings or events to build alliances or learn from each other;
• Any other activity that is in line with the priorities of this fund;
• Etc. 

Project proposals must be different from any other project you have already in place. ILGA-Europe wants to make the learning of these projects available for LGBTI activists in Europe and Central-Asia. As such, we expect applicants to be willing to share their learning with us.

Examples of costs that you can include in your project are: travel costs such as flight, train or bus tickets; accommodation costs for instance in a hotel; meals costs; food for coffee breaks; cost to rent a room for an activity; costs to pay for salaries of those involved in the project; costs for design or printing publications or other materials; costs to ensure accessibility of activities such as sign language interpretation, speech to text captioning; costs to cover reasonable adjustments when it comes to accommodation, transportation or operating costs linked to the project (for example a share of your organisations rent, internet bill or stationery) among others.

Examples of costs that you cannot include in the budget are: alcoholic drinks; purchases of equipment (such as laptops, projectors or similar items) or purchases of real state among others.

Who can apply for this funding opportunity?

Registered organisations led by D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists are encouraged to submit project proposals; proposals from LGBTI organisations working on the intersection of LGBTI and disability are also eligible.

We also welcome projects where an unregistered group operates with the support of a registered organisation. If your group is not registered (you do not have a bank account, etc.) you can partner with a registered organisation and have them applying with you and supporting the project administration.

We will also welcome proposals for projects to which ILGA-Europe would contribute part of the funding. For example, if your group is part of an organisation which is in position to develop a larger project and fund part of it, ILGA-Europe would consider being a co-funder to this project. The one requirement is that this would be supporting important activities that would not happen without this funding.

No matter what form your activities take (registered organisation or informal group) you need to have some experience in running projects, including financially. In case, you doubt on applying, please do not hesitate to reach out to us as we can support you with your assessment. ILGA-Europe also provides support in grant management in the form of webinars and meetings aimed at explaining the financial management requirements for the project.

Applicants must be based in the 54 countries of Europe and Central Asia

Budget available:

We plan to make up to 5 grants in the range of 3.000€-5.000 €. Projects can last a maximum of 6 months and have to finish before the 15 October 2020. For this call, ILGA-Europe has a total budget of 17.000 €.

How to apply for this fund:

You have to fill in this application form by 10 February 2020; this is the preferred option: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DdeafanddisabledLGBTIactivism

You can also fill in the same application form in word format and send it to this email address: valeria@ilga-europe.org

In order to promote accessibility for all we also welcome video applications. This is limited to applicants that do not have the capacity to write an application. Video applications need to answer the same questions as written applications so check the whole application form before and make sure you address those questions in the video. The video must be a maximum of 10 minutes. Please use .mp4 and .mov formats. We appreciate and encourage videos that are “Selfie-style.” You can record yourself looking directly at your smartphone, tablet or computer. No special effects, labels, or editing are required. Videos will not be accepted if we cannot see who is speaking on behalf of the organization. We will require organization’s to submit contact information and the budget template in writing.

You can send us the video application via WeTransfer or sharing a link to a Dropbox or Google Drive folder. Please send the link to this email address: valeria@ilga-europe.org. Do not attach the video to the email as the size will be too large and it will not go through.

Applications written or video must be submitted in English. The last day to submit your application (deadline) is Monday 10 February 2020.

What is going to happen and when?

• The last day to submit your application (deadline) is Monday 10 February 2020.
• We will review applications and decide on projects to support by 24 February 2020.
• We will inform all applicants about the result of the review via e-mail or other contacts provided in the application.
• For the project selected, we may ask additional questions or clarifications to the applicants. Together, we will also compile a more detailed budget.
• Once all these steps are taken, and in case we have answers to all the questions and doubts, the project will receive final approval and we will send you the contract together with a Payment Request Form (PRF) We will work so that all contracts are signed between the 1 of April and the 30 of April. Activities might start from the day in which the contract is dated
• For this funding, we will send you the 80% of the budget within 4 weeks of signing the contract and receiving the PRF. The remaining 20% is to be transferred at the end of the project once the final narrative and financial reports are submitted and approved.
• No matter when the contract is signed the project activities must finish by the 15 of October 2020.
• By 30 October 2020 you will have to submit a final narrative and financial report. We will review the reports and ask additional questions if needed.
• During the 5 or 6 months of project we will have regular contacts (every one or two months).

What will ILGA-Europe do and how you can connect with us:

• If you are interested in this opportunity and you have questions or doubts please contact us and we will do our best to support.
• Once projects are selected we will work with those involved to answer questions or doubts, look together at the planning for the project and to revise the budget if needed.
• When project activities will be implemented we will be available to support in case you experience problems or need suggestions on how to go about some aspects of your work.
• We will work to collect learning from the work done under this funding and we will circulate this knowledge for instance with articles, educational materials, online learning sessions among others.  

Do not hesitate to contact us via email at valeria@ilga-europe.org or by calling 0032 2 609 56 52 (Valeria’s number at ILGA-Europe):

• If you have doubts or questions related to this funding opportunity.
• If you need support with your application.
• If you will not be able to apply you would still like to be informed about this work. 

We put a lot of thought and work into preparing for our first gathering of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists in Brussels, but during the event we learned much more about how to organise better in the future. Here are our main takeaways!

On the 22 and 23 of November ILGA-Europe hosted a gathering of 11 D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists from 9 countries throughout the European region. It was an incredible opportunity to meet and share experiences, to exchange and pull knowledge together, and to form and strengthen tools and practices to support D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people, communities and movements.

Organising the event, ILGA-Europe learned a lot about how we could and should make our work more accessible. In this article we are delighted to share some of those learnings. We hope that this will help others in their efforts around inclusion and accessibility – not only for D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people, but for our community as a whole.

The Takeaways:

1. D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activism leadership is key

From the very beginning, we engaged with a disability and LGBTI activist, asking them to work with us putting this event together. Their expert engagement was a brilliant source of strategic thinking, which allowed us to connect with more activists. We made sure that the idea of a gathering was relevant and resonated with D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists before moving on.

2. We need to build alliances and work in solidarity

Our strong relationship with the European Disability Forum (EDF) allowed tackling intersectionality between disability and LGBTI within both our movements. ‘Nothing about us without us’ was indeed crucial takeaway from the group who gathered in Brussels.

A great starting point to understand more of the needs and work around disability and LGBTI is 2017 TGEU publication “Oppression Squared: D/deaf and disabled Trans experiences in Europe” by Nathan Gale. The report presents the findings from an expert meeting of D/deaf and disabled trans and queer activists. It sets out barriers in accessing their human rights, and in attempting to engage with LGBTIQ organisations. The report also includes practical steps that organisations can take to overcome or reduce these barriers.

3. Language is a wide and ongoing debate

When preparing for the event we had to reflect on what language to use to talk about this work and we decided for D/deaf and disabled people. This decision reflects what is in the publication “Oppression Squared: D/deaf and disabled trans experiences in Europe” and is informed by experiences of D/deaf and disabled trans and queer activists and their extensive activism across Europe. However, as stated in the publication “it is important to note the variety of terms that are used by D/deaf and disabled people to describe their experiences and to acknowledge that there is not always agreement on the language used”.

We made a choice, hoping that it would not discourage potential applicants. Nonetheless, some of the feedback we received was quite critical of this decision. Some would have preferred us to use people with disabilities instead. We learned that it is a wide and ongoing debate that from the language dives into the comprehensive approach to disability – from the people first approach to the social model of disability.

4. How to better ensure accessibility to events

Ensuring accessibility to the broader event also required more knowledge and tools than the ones we had. We needed to be prepared to welcome participants in an environment with way too many barriers to full access. How to go about it? EDF’s Guide for Accessible Meeting for All is a great and comprehensive tool that provides insight on how to go about meetings venue, accommodation, what to do before and during the meeting, etc.

A great tool we used in the application process is the accessibility requirements example questionnaire (page 66) provided in the report Oppression Squared. It is meant to facilitate participants in an event describing what their access needs and reasonable adjustments are. Events’ organisers then have an overview of what to look for in terms of accommodation, event venue, etc. Before publishing the invitation to apply, we checked with hotels and other service providers this list to make sure that we could meet those requirements and then we amended to list according to what we knew could be provided in terms of access.

The list doesn’t only provide information on needs around accommodation and transport. It also includes elements of access during the meeting – physical, sensory and neurodiversity. We received many feedbacks saying that this list created a sense of acknowledgment and respect.

5. Information needs to be fully accessible

Accessibility of information around the gathering was a really important part of our preparation. Some resources were of great help and many are listed and linked under this European Disability Forum guide on how to make political campaigns more accessible. Some of the resources and information are more technical, such the ones about accessibility of web content. Others are about making the content of the communication accessible, for instance to people with intellectual disability, such as the publication on European standards for making information easy to read and understand. We had to challenge our use of the language and we learned that our communication is still not fully accessible. However, we are committed to integrating this knowledge in our communications beyond this event, in an overall effort to ensure access for all.

6. Getting the timing right

When developing the program of the event we decided to limit the number of hours of the meeting and to have several breaks. Reducing our time together when we all travel to be there is not an easy choice but it is absolutely necessarily to ensure access for all and ultimately it didn’t impacted on the outcomes of the event. We had all the conversations that we could possibly have and all were meaningful and relevant precisely because everyone was able to join in.  

When we sent out the program to participants we also included access details, such as additional information on the meeting room (where it is, how it would be arranged, how much space would be available, etc.), bathrooms, coffee and lunch, etc. We also shared other type of information, for instance that participants were invited to move around, to stand or sit, to leave the room when needed, and more.  During the event we made sure to stick to our planned timing – no delays on the break or on the time for the end of the meeting.

7. Activities should be for everyone

Activities proposed needed to take into account accessibility needs: not everyone would necessarily have the same approach or possibility when it comes to moving around the room, arrange sticky notes, write, etc. More information on accessibility of presentations in meetings can be found in this guide from Web Accessibility Initiative here. Ultimately, whatever the event we organise we have to mindful that our audience might not be able to: see well or at all, hear well or at all, move well or at all, speak well or at all, or understand information presented in some ways well or at all.

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We are learning as we go, so do not hesitate to contact us via email at valeria@ilga-europe.org or by calling +32 2 609 56 52 (Valeria’s number at ILGA-Europe), if you have feedback, doubts or questions related to this blog, the tools and materials included or the practices described.

Want to know more? Check out Valeria’s previous post #DisRainbow: What We Learned from the First ILGA-Europe Gathering of D/deaf and Disabled LGBTI Activists

Valeria Santostefano is ILGA-Europe’s Senior Programmes & Policy Officer who organised the gathering in November and shared her thoughts on this blog.

An exciting two-day event with 11 D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists from nine European countries this month gave everyone involved some crucial take-aways and key priorities for future movement building.

On the 22 and 23 of November, ILGA-Europe hosted a gathering of 11 D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists from nine countries throughout the European region. It was for us all an incredible opportunity to meet, share experiences, exchange information, and pull together knowledge, tools and practices to support and strengthen D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people, communities and movements.

To our knowledge, international initiatives around LGBTI disability are lacking in our region. D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people clearly face specific barriers and challenges when accessing human rights. As much as accessibility and inclusiveness have more and more been part of LGBTI groups and organisations’ conversations and practices, most D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people continue to be marginalised in LGBTI movements across Europe and Central Asia. At ILGA-Europe, we wanted to contribute to changing that.

Organising the gathering is part of ILGA-Europe’s broader and ongoing effort to ensure that our work – both within our organisation and the movement – is increasingly intersectional and accessible. We are also strongly committed to supporting the work of those within the LGBTI+ communities whose intersectional identities are met with even more marginalisation and exclusion from our societies. Both purposes are in line with what emerged from the event: there is a pressing need for ensuring that D/deaf and disabled LGBTI experiences are fully acknowledged, visible and represented in our work and they are in leading positions.

Alliances and Connections

Building alliances and working in solidarity is central to this work. Our strong relationship with the European Disability Forum (EDF) allowed tackling intersectionality between disability and LGBTI within both our movements. During the 2018 ILGA-Europe conference in Brussels, we ran a workshop together, which informed us on key conversations and needs within the LGBTI movement. Then, in 2019 we organised half-day peer exchange between our two staff teams. We shared materials and expertise, supported each other’s campaigns that were relevant to our communities, and developed a practice of mutual support. EDF’s support was precious in preparing for November’s gathering with D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists. Building alliances and connecting was one of the suggestions from the gathering too.

Connecting with D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activism is key, so we needed to make sure that the gathering was relevant to those concerned. We engaged with a disability and LGBTI activist and asked them to work with us on this event from the start. Their engagement was an endless source of expertise and strategic thinking and allowed us to connect with more activists. The idea of this gathering resonated with them too. ‘Nothing about us without us’ was a crucial takeaway from the group who gathered in Brussels.

What the Priorities Are

The event was an opportunity to take stock of the experiences faced by D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people in various countries in Europe, as shared by the participants on the basis of their work. Participants discussed different forms of organising and activism, what the status of such organising is in their own situations, their cooperation with LGBTI/disability rights groups, the strategies and tools used, and existing gaps, etc. The gathering provided a space to reflect together on the needs for movement building at the regional level.

Priorities identified during the gathering are around: connecting voices and ideas, visibility of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people, educating LGBTI and disability organisations, and campaign and advocacy for legal and policy changes. From the perspective of the LGBTI movement some key priorities of work came up too. We need to rethink some of our practices in order to make sure that our work is accessible and that participation is possible. Productivity and heavy workloads are part of this conversation, but also accessibility of our events, and first of all accessibility of LGBTI pride events.

Visibility of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people is a key need. A lack of funding is clearly part of the problem and there are not enough resources to support intersectional work. More awareness of disability rights within the LGBTI movement is needed and acknowledgment that disability rights are human rights has still fully to come.

Organising the event, we learned a lot about how we could and should make our work more accessible. It challenged our own view of accessibility in our work and it brought up pressing issues. We are committed to keep on doing the work, but we also know that a lot needs to happen in countries, at the local level, within LGBTI groups and organisations.

Stay tuned for part two of our blog on ILGA-Europe’s D/deaf and disabled LGBTI gathering, where we’ll share some of the practical steps and learnings from the event that can be of inspiration to other groups, organisations and individuals who wants to step up their work around disability and LGBTI.  

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Want to know more? Check out Valeria’s other post 7 Practical Takeaways from the First ILGA-Europe Gathering of D/deaf and Disabled LGBTI Activists

ILGA-Europe and Autism Europe are looking for inputs on the specific needs and struggles of LGBTI people on the autism spectrum and their families in order to prepare a submission to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has been drawing attention on the stark inequalities that People with autism experience in many areas, from access to education to difficulties within the justice systems. The Assembly is now working on a report titled “Supporting people with autism and their families”, which will result in a resolution to be adopted by the Assembly in 2020.

We are working to prepare a short submission on the specific needs and struggles of LGBTI people on the autism spectrum and their families, and are looking for inputs to this submission.

Inputs can be:

• focused at the local, regional, or national level, or presenting a full Council of Europe perspective
• focused on LGBTI autistic people as a whole or on specific groups within the LGBTI communities

The format for submissions is informal, and can include individual testimonies, statistical data, or descriptions of situations and practices affecting these communities.

Inputs are due by 2 December 2019.

• Visit Council of Europe’s webpage to see the full list of Member States

Apply now to participate in the Gathering for D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists and LGBTI and disability rights activists in Europe and Central Asia.

D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people face specific barriers and challenges when accessing human rights. Accessibility and inclusiveness have more and more been part of LGBTI groups and organizations’ conversations and practices. Yet most D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people continue to be marginalized in LGBTI movements across Europe and Central Asia. Many D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people have strongly advocated for spaces and agendas within LGBTI or disability rights movements that are more inclusive of them and of their experiences. Some have started their own groups or organized events to better cater to their community and its needs.

As part of our work on movement building and intersectionality, ILGA-Europe is inviting you to apply to participate in the Gathering for D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists in Europe and Central Asia, to be held on 21 – 24 November 2019 in Brussels.

This meeting will be a space for D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists and LGBTI and disability rights activists in the region to take stock of the various forms of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activism. It aims to provide a space for activists to jointly think about possible ways forward when it comes to movement building.

For the time-being we still are struggling with limited resources, but we are committed to make the best use of them to ensure that this meeting is fully accessible to those who will participate. This meeting also plays an important part of our own learning.

At this event, you will:

• Meet other D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists and LGBTI and disability rights activists in Europe and Central Asia, who are active at grassroots, regional, national or international levels;
• Share your experiences working as a D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activist or LGBTI and disability rights activist;
• Understand more of the contexts the other participants work in, including key issues and strategies that activists use;
• Exchange and pull together knowledge, tools and practices to support and strengthen D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people, communities and movements;
• Map existing gaps, needs and resources within the D/deaf and disabled LGBTI movements with regard to movement building;
• Participate in a joint thinking process regarding potential avenues for movement building at the regional level.

The meeting will be held in English.

ILGA-Europe will cover travel, meals and accommodation costs for the duration of the meeting (from the evening of 21 November, to the morning of 24 November).

ILGA-Europe will provide support in the best possible way and work to meet accessibility requirements within the scope of our capacity and resources.

Scroll down for more information on the event and practical details below.

Do not hesitate to contact us via email at valeria@ilga-europe.org or by calling 0032 2 609 56 52 (Valeria’s number at ILGA-Europe):

• If you have doubts or questions related to this event.
• If you need support to finalize your application or if applying in writing doesn’t work for you.
• If you will not be able to apply or travel to Brussels but you would still like to be involved in or informed about this event. 

What will the workshop cover?

The meeting will aim to provide a safe space where participants are encouraged to share their own experiences and hear from the experiences of others. It will combine peer exchange in bigger and smaller groups, informal discussion sessions on movement building, priorities, needs and potential ways forward. The program of the workshop will be based on participants’ contributions and expectations.

The meeting will be held in English.

Who should come?

You are strongly encouraged to apply if

• You identify as a D/deaf and disabled and LGBTI person/activist or LGBTI and disability rights activists;
• You are an individual activist or part of a group or organization in Europe and Central Asia;
• You have experience in relevant human rights advocacy or policy work, or in delivering services to D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people;
• You are able to participate for the full duration of the training;
• You communicate effectively in English or sign language.

We also encourage non-disabled LGBTI activists to apply if they work on LGBTI and disability rights.

Selection criteria

The selection will be based on the:

• Relevance of your  work in relation to the experiences of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people;
• Ability to share information about the experiences of D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people in your local or country context and/or at the regional level;
• Desire to participate in a strategic discussion on movement building within the context of LGBTI/disability rights;
• Cooperation or intention to build alliances with other activists in the region.

Practical details

Date and Place of the Training

Date: 21-24 November 2019
Place: Brussels, Belgium
Arrival: 21 November, Thursday
Departure: 24 November, Sunday

Travel reimbursement

ILGA-Europe will reimburse travel costs after participants attend the full meeting. When the selection process is concluded, participants that are selected to attend the meeting need to make their own travel arrangements.

Participants should look for the cheapest mode of transport available (economy class airfare or 2nd class train), that takes into account needs accessibility and reasonable adjustments, as previously agreed on by ILGA-Europe. If travel costs are more than € 250, participants should let ILGA-Europe know and wait for ILGA-Europe approval before the booking/purchase of the ticket. Local travel (buses, trains, etc.) will be covered through a per diem provided at the training.

If you are not able to pay for your travel costs and be reimbursed later, you should indicate that in the application form.

Meals and accommodation

ILGA-Europe will cover costs for the accommodation and meals from the evening of 21 November to the morning of 24 November. During the meeting lunches are usually provided by ILGA-Europe. For meals that we don’t provide directly we provide pocket money. Any other costs, relating to meals and accommodation outside of these times, will have to be covered by the participant unless previously agreed with ILGA-Europe.

Accessibility

We are committed to ensuring that the meeting is accessible to all participants.

Please state your accessibility and reasonable adjustment needs in the application form. Please mention in particular if you require travel and accommodation reimbursement for a Personal Assistant; if you require sign language interpretation or if you require the support of a palantypist (speech to text captioning); and if you are not able to make your own travel arrangements.

ILGA-Europe will provide support in the best possible way and work to meet accessibility requirements within the scope of our capacity and resources.

Application process

Applications closed.

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The language D/deaf and disabled people reflects the terms used in the publication Nathan Gale, (2017) “Oppression Squared: D/deaf and disabled trans experiences in Europe” Transgender Europe. See here: https://tgeu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Oppression-Squared.pdf

Such language was used by the group of experts gathered under that project and is informed by their experiences and extensive activism across Europe. We decided to refer to this language for this event. However, as stated in the publication “it is important to note the variety of terms that are used by D/deaf and disabled people to describe their experiences and to acknowledge that there is not always agreement on the language used”. We hope that this will not discourage potential applicants. Do reach out in case you have questions or doubts.

* This meeting is funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020).